Thought processes and conversations started under the tilted cap of Tropicana Field. Someday everyone will know the Rays play in St. Petersburg, Florida, not TAMPA, or the fictitious city of TAMPA BAY.

Rays on Wrong End of Walk Off Tonight

Mariners 2, Rays 1

Since we are in my favorite city besides the Tampa Bay area for 4 games, I am going to let you all know some of the secrets and adventures to be had in the Emerald City. The original Seattle was built just below sealevel and since they did not have concrete and asphalt road systems back then, the roads would become a quagmire of mud, dirt, and anything else that was swept down by the rain from the hills.

Another interesting fact is that all the original houses had to put their toilets on the second floor of the houses due to the low sea level building. Unlucky people who had a toilet on the first floor knew nightly when the tide had come in becuase of the gurgle and onrush of seawater into their homes.

An intresting place in Seattle to visit is the Ballard Locks that seperate Puget Sound from Lake Washington. The locks are a series of basic boating transports to take any marine travelers down from the upper level of Lake Washington, to the low lying Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. Another interesting part of the locks is the salmon ladder.

It ia an interesting series of windows next to the salmon swimway made so people could watch the fish as they try and swin upward towrd theri spwaning grounds beyond Lake Washington. It is really wild to watch these fish struggle and fly in the air on their trip up the ladder system towards freedom again.

Tomorrow I will blog a bit about Pike’s Market. It is ine of my favorite things about the city.

Andy Sonnanstine knew he was in for a pitcher’s duel last night in Safeco Field. He was matched up against the Mariner’s 22 year old ace, Felix Hernandez. It was not the first time this season that Sonnanstine has had to go opposite a teams’ ace, but the kid did pretty good for himself. The game was a close one with Sonnanstine and Hernandez orchestrating a game that only lasted 2 hours and 9 minutes. The current Rays record for the shortest game away from home this season was 2 hours and 1 minute set against the L A Angels.

Both pitchers worked fast on the mound, and at one point, Sonnanstine had retired 17 straight Seattle batters to set a new Rays pitching record. Sonnanstine also went 7.1 innings and gave up a lone run on 5 hits on the night. He worked fast on the mound and kept the Mariners’ on their heels by throwing to his spots perfectly last night.

Andy had one of his best nights in his disgusing his breaking ball and watching it clip the corner consisstanly last night. Sonnanstine struck out 4 batters and issuing no walks on the night.

Carl Crawford was back in leftfield last night, but did not look comfortable and made two critical errors in the game. In the 2nd inning, Crawford missed a fly out from Jose Lopez that ended up as a double and was one of the only baserunners in scoring position last night. Lopez got to third in the inning before being stranded by three quick outs by the Mariners.

Then in the 8th inning, with Miguel Cairo pinch-running on first. Yuniesky Bentancourt hit a sacrifice fly that tied the score at 1, and Crawford did not throw the ball back into second to keep Cairo on first. Cairo advanced to second on the mistake and was in scoring position with 1 out in the inning. Luckly for the Rays, Cairo was also stranded on base by two quick outs.

Rays-nation held it breath for a few minutes last night as Evan Longoria got plucked by J J Putz with a fastball in his throwing hand. The ball seemed to bounce off his right wrist and Longoria was treated by the Rays trainers, but had full motion in the hand and wrist area.

The ball was intended to get Longoria off the plate a bit and Longoria did not have time to bail or evenduck the pitch. He was awarded first and went to third on Carlos Pena’s single to centerfield. Longoria was left stranded on third by the Rays.

The Rays scored their lone run in the 4th inning. Crawford lead off the inning by walking on 5 pitches to get a man on base for the Rays. Evan Longoria then singled to center to put Crawford on second, and in scoring position.

Carlos Pena then grounded into a fielder’s choice, with Longoria out at second. Crawford was now standing at third with 1 out in the inning. Cliff Floyd was at the plate,and on the 6th pitch, Hernandez threw a wild pitch that scored Crawford from third and put the Rays up 1-0 in the game.

Pena moved to second on the wild pitch and the Rays had another runner in scoring position. Floyd eneded up walking, and the Rays quickly got two more outs from Dioner Navarro and Eric Hinske to end the inning.

It has been a rare occasion that Dan Wheeler is on the mound in a losing cause for the Rays. Wheeler came in to pitch in the 8th inning of the game.

Wheeler has been pretty automatic this year for the Rays. Coming into tonight’s game, Wheeler has lead the Rays with 49 appearances this year. Opponents have batted a lowly .170 against him this year, lowest among MLB relievers. They are also batting .185 against him with runners on base, and .156 with runners in scoring position. Wheeler also leads the AL with 25 holds this season, and is one away from the MLB lead.

But in the 9th inning last night, Raul Ibanez needed only one Wheeler fastball to turn the Rays away with a walk-off homer to rightfield. It was Wheelers’ 5th loss of the season

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